Experts predicted polio return to west UP

New Delhi, August 17: The resurgence of poliovirus in western Uttar Pradesh — that has rung alarm bells in the Health Ministry — was predicted by the India Experts Advisory Group (IEAG) in May this year. The IEAG, which includes representatives from the WHO, UNICEF and CDC, had warned the Government that cases of P1 poliovirus may occur. It had advised that an intensive programme be launched to deal with the situation.

“While the end of wild poliovirus is in sight, the IEAG strongly warns against getting complacent. Cases of both WPV1 and WPV3 may still occur during the high season in 2008 and these cases will require an immediate response,” the IEAG had said in May.

Among all the strains of Polio, PV1 (poliovirus1) is the most virulent and produces severe paralysis. According to the Health Ministry, one out of every 200 children in India is infected with this virus.

Uttar Pradesh didn’t report any P1 case till June this year and the officials had started concentrating on P3 virus. However, things changed soon. After a gap of one-and-a-half year, the first case of P1 came from one of the high-risk areas — western UP. Since June, five P1 cases have been reported from the area.

The officials involved in the project have now started epidemiological investigation and genetic sequencing of the virus reported from Badaun to check if the virus has been reintroduced into western UP from outside or continuation of transmission from last year.

The IEAG had said that with low transmission of P1 virus, India could be the first among the remaining endemic countries to eradicate the virus by the end of this year. But there is a possibility that a few cases may occur in the coming months. The IEAG had warned that the level of immunity to P1 among children in western UP was the highest ever, which was the reason for the virus desperately trying to survive.

Total polio cases so far: 355

•Bihar: 212 (P1-2, P3-210)

•Uttar Pradesh: 131 (P1-5, 126-P3)

•Delhi: 2 (P1-1, P3-1)

•Maharashtra: 2 (all P3)

•Haryana: 2 (all P3)

•Orissa: 1 (P1)

•Assam: 1 (P1)

•Andhra Pradesh: 1 (P3)

•Rajasthan: 1 (P3)

•West Bengal: 2 (P1-1, P3-1)

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